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Tag: bsf acts lesson 19

Summary of 2 Thessalonians 3:

Paul requests prayer for the message of the Lord to be spread rapidly and be honored and for safety in essence (delivered from the wicked and evil men). The Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the Devil.

Paul commands them to stay away from idlers and who do not live according to his teachings. We were not idle. We worked night and day so as not to be a burden. For if a man will not work, he shall not eat. We urge you to earn the bread you eat and never tire of doing what is right. those who are not following our instruction.

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 19, Day 5: 2 Thessalonians 3

11) Part Personal Question. My answer: Paul requests prayer for the message of the Lord to be spread rapidly and be honored. Direction for the future.

12) The definition of idleness is someone who is avoiding work, is lazy, without purpose, and is working for no point. It was important to Paul that everyone who is able earn the bread they eat. Plus, idleness led to busybodies, or gossip. Idle is choosing not to work when you can. Rest is recovering from work, whether that be mental or physical.

I love how we are to never tire of doing what is right. I know that is hard for all of us sometimes when we are tired and we just want to take the easy way out. Yet, we must remember Jesus took the hard road and died for us; nothing we face can compare.

Paul’s prayer request makes us wonder how often the work of God’s Word is hindered by our prayerlessness.

God has promised that His Word would be free and perform its work: It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and prosper in the thing for which I sent it (Isaiah 55:11). But as with many of God’s promises, we are expected to take this promise in faith, and in prayer, to ask God to perform the promise for His glory.

God promised to keep Satan on a leash. He will not allow any temptation to become too great for us (1 Corinthians 10:13), and will not allow Satan to do whatever he wants with us (Luke 22:31-32).

Paul wisely prayed for both love and patience (endurance) for the Thessalonian Christians. These were two qualities essential for the kind of spiritual stability and strength the Thessalonians needed.

The purpose in withdrawing from these disobedient was not so much punishment, but more so simply to deny these disobedient ones the aid and comfort of the fellowship of the body of Christ until they repented. It put them out of the church into the “domain” of Satan (the world), in hope that they might miss the fellowship of the church so much they would repent of their disobedience.

Church is a place of love and comfort. One should be sad to be excluded from the church.

Rail Against Idleness

God’s plan is to provide for our needs through our work.

There is a play on words between the ancient Greek phrasing in the lines not working at all and but are busybodies. The idea is something like “busybodies who do no business.”

Perhaps these busybodies thought that if Jesus was coming soon, it made no sense to work.

The early church did provide for the truly needy among them, but only after being certain that they were truly needy and after putting them to work for the church (1 Timothy 5:3-16).

Be not weary in well doing. There is plenty of well-wishing in the world. Well-resolving, well-suggesting, and well-criticizing are also found in plenty. Many people are good at well-talking, but there is not enough of simple well doing.

“The intention of excommunication is not to drive men from the Lord’s flock, but rather to bring them back again when they have wandered and gone astray… Excommunication is to be distinguished from anathema.” (Calvin)

As was his custom, Paul himself wrote the final words of the epistle with his own hand. This was both a personal demonstration of affection and proof that the letter was authentic.

For Paul, God’s grace was the beginning and the end of the Christian life. It was appropriate that this letter – and most – of his letters began and ended with a mention of grace.

Summary of 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17:

From the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit if you believe in the truth. Through the gospel you might share in the glory of Jesus Christ. Stand firm and hold to the teachings (the Word) and may Jesus and God encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 19, Day 4: 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

8a) God chose us (man) to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through our belief in the truth and Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross We must believe to have the Holy Spirit indwell within so we may be with God. Always thank God and hold to his teachings.

b) Personal Question. My answer: God is good and full of merciful grace.

9) So that you can be saved and not fall into Satan’s lies.

10) Personal Question. My answer: By not believing the lies the world tells us and how some sins are okay. Stick to God’s word and you will be strengthened.

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 19, Day 4: 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

Short days are nice to break up the longer days. To sum it up: believe in God’s truth (who He is and His word), accept Jesus as your Savior, and receive God’s sanctification of the Spirit and the glory of Jesus Christ (who he is) as well as eternal salvation.

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 19, Day 4: 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

Paul repeats his idea from 2 Thessalonians 1:3, that he was obligated to thank God for His work in the Thessalonians, in light of the greatness of that work.

God’s love for us is the primary motivation for all His work in and through us.

God’s work of sanctification uses two great forces, the Spirit and the belief in the truth. The Spirit of God and the Word of God are essential to our sanctification.

This is the same glory John wrote of in 1 John 3:2 – we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

Summary of 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12:

Paul in His Second Letter to the Thessalonians says the day of our Lord will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed. He will oppose and exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming to be God.

The secret power of lawlessness is already at work but he is being held back and will be continued to be held back until he is removed. The lawless one will be revealed and Jesus will then overthrow him. We will see the coming of the lawless one by witnessing the counterfeit miracles, signs, and wonders and other deceiving evils. The unbelievers refuse to love the truth so God will send them a delusion so they will be condemned.

Summary of Revelation 13:6-13:

The beast opened his mouth to blaspheme God and was given power to conquer the saints in war. He was given authority over all people. All unbelievers will worship the beast whose name is not written in the book of life.

Another beast emerged with two horns like a lamb but spoke like a dragon. He was the first beast’s helper who made everyone worship the first beast. He performed miraculous signs including fire coming down from heaven.

6a) A rebellion will occur, and the man of lawlessness will be revealed.

b) The man of lawlessness is a man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, claiming to be God. Jesus will overthrow him easily. The coming of the lawless one will be accompanied by the works of Satan, such as counterfeit miracles, signs, and wonders, and evil. Those who will be unsaved wil be condemned who have not believed the truth.

7a) Because of people’s refusal to open their eyes and see and accept God’s truth He allows them to be deluded by the Devil and things of this world and not His world. For instance, they worship and serve created things instead of the Creator. Although they know they will have death if they do these things, they continue to do so and approve of others who do so as well.

c) Personal Question. My answer: We need to always be vigilant, always testing what we are told with God’s word, and always in tune with God so we don’t fall into any lies set forth by Satan. Know God’s truths and engrave them into your heart with steel. Pray and pray some more. Read and study God’s words. Use it as a shield against the Enemy. Accept God’s truth, what Jesus did for us on the cross, and reject the world’s acts as much as possible. Make God your center and the delusion will be repelled like a dog is to ultrasonic sounds.

Great warning to us how the Devil is everywhere and will try to make us fall at every turn. We must be vigilant in our walk with God and not stray off His path for it is all too easy. We must be aware that the lawlessness one will come and be prepared for it by becoming more and more like Jesus every day of our lives.

The man of lawlessness is also referred to as the Antichrist and many scholars believe it will be a human man.

The beast of the Revelations passage also refers to the man of lawlessness. They are one in the same just called different names. The beast, the man of lawlessness, and the Antichrist are all the same person who will come instead of Jesus to lure people into wickedness. We (humans) are unsure what this person/thing will look like so there are many descriptions of him throughout the Bible.

2 Thessalonians 2:1-12:

Paul here addressed questions raised by his first letter, where he instructed the Thessalonians about the catching away of the church to be with Jesus (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).

The challenge in understanding this chapter comes from the fact that it is a supplement to what Paul has already taught the Thessalonians in words, and we don’t know exactly what Paul said to the them. Yet the ideas are clear enough if carefully pieced together.

Two Comings of Jesus in One Rapture

Paul clearly wrote of the return of Jesus, but the wording here implies a difference between the coming and our gathering. This strongly suggests that there are essentially two comings of Jesus. One coming is for His church (as described clearly in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18), and the other coming is with His church, to judge a rebellious world.

A preferred manuscript reading of 2 Thessalonians 2:2 has the day of the Lord rather than the day of Christ. The day of the Lord is a concept with a rich Old Testament background, and was mentioned in Paul’s previous letter to the Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 5:2). It is not a single day, but a period associated with God’s outpouring of judgment and the deliverance of God’s people. A significant aspect of the day of the Lord is the Great Tribulation described in Matthew 24:1-31.

The Thessalonians were afraid that they were in the Great Tribulation (the day of the Lord), and feared that they had missed the rapture. But Paul will demonstrate that they are not in the day of Christ; because if they were, then certain signs would be present.

Bible scholars debate if there will be an apostasy among those who once followed God, or a general worldwide rebellion. In fact, Paul may have both in mind, because there is evidence of each in the end times (1 Timothy 4:1-3, 2 Timothy 3:1-5 and 4:3-4).

Some scholard believe that the man of sin not an individual, but a system or an office. However, Daniel described an individual person: The prince who is to come (Daniel 9:26), the king of fierce countenance (Daniel 8:23), the willful king (Daniel 11:36-45), and Jesus described an individual person: The one who comes in his own name (John 5:43).

The Man of Sin

The man of sin demands worship for himself that belongs to God only (Luke 4:8). This demand for worship is also described in Revelation 13:1-6.

The prophet Daniel told us the Antichrist will break his covenant with the Jews and bring sacrifice and offerings to an end; that the Antichrist will defile the temple by setting something abominable there (Daniel 9:27, 11:31, and 12:11).

Jesus said to look for an abomination standing in the holy place, which would be the pivotal sign that the season of God’s wrath was upon the earth (Matthew 24:15-16 and 24:21).

The man of sin is truly an Anti-Christ. Satan has planned the career of the man of sin to mirror the ministry of Jesus.

Both Jesus and the man of sin have support for their claims by miraculous works (2 Thessalonians 2:9).

The Man of Sin Comes When:

The Holy Spirit removes His restraint.

Second, the lawless one will be destroyed by the mere brightness of Jesus at His coming.

Satan will give the man of sin power. Antichrist is only God’s messenger, revealing God’s judgment on the people.

Revelation 13:6-13:

The beast makes war against the saints (God’s people). Everyone will worship the final world dictator, except the chosen.

The two horns may express the fact that this beast has authority in two realms, such as religious and political authority. Or, he may have two horns simply because that’s how many horns lambs have (two horns like a lamb).

Signs and wonders will be present among Christians, but the real marks of God’s work are love and truth.

Summary of 2 Thessalonians 1:

Second Letter to the Church in Thessalonica. We ought to thank God for you as your faith is growing more and more and you love one another more and more. We boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.

God’s judgment is right and you will be worthy of the kingdom of God. God is just. He will pay back those who trouble you and bring relief when the Lord Jesus comes from Heaven in a blazing fire with his powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus with everlasting destruction. Those who believe will marvel in him as he’s glorified in his holy people.

We pray that God may count you worthy of his calling and that he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 19, Day 2: 2 Thessalonians 1

3a) Because their faith is growing more and more and the love every one of them has for each other is increasing. They have perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials they are enduring.

b) Personal Question. My answer: I think we all grow in our struggles, whether we think we do or not. Often, we don’t see it till later on down the road, but having the faith that we are growing helps.

4a) Jesus will be revealed from Heaven in blazing fire with powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. Jesus will be glorified in his holy people and be marveled at. He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to those who are troubled. Unbelievers will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people.

5) Part personal Question. My answer: That God may count the Thessalonians worthy of his calling, that he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. Myself and everyone.

Powerful prayer we should be praying for ourselves and others regularly. That our purpose is His purpose. That we find His purpose in our lives. That we live out that purpose despite the world’s pressures to hinder and squash us at every turn. That we may be always prompted by faith in what we do. That we live for Him every moment of our lives.

Silas we met in Acts. He was a long and experienced companion of Paul who traveled with Paul on his second missionary journey and was imprisoned and set free with Paul in the Philippian jail (Acts 16:19-27). When Paul first came to Thessalonica, Silas came with him (Acts 17:1-9), so the Thessalonians knew him well. He also collaborated with Paul on the first letter to the Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 1:1).

Timothy was a resident of Lystra, a city in the province of Galatia (Acts 16:1-3). He was the son of a Greek father (Acts 16:1), and a Jewish mother named Eunice (2 Timothy 1:5). From his youth, he had been taught in the Scriptures by his mother and grandmother (2 Timothy 1:5; 3:15). Timothy was a trusted companion and associate of Paul, and he accompanied Paul on many of his missionary journeys. Paul sent Timothy to the Thessalonians on a previous occasion (1 Thessalonians 3:2). With Silvanus, Timothy was also a collaborator on Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 1:1).

Paul himself founded the church in Thessalonica on his second missionary journey (Acts 17:1-9). This letter covers the same topics as 1 Thessalonians, but in a sterner manner.

The Thessalonians’ suffering was evidence of the righteous judgment of God. Where suffering is coupled with righteous endurance, God’s work is done.

Since God is righteous, He will repayall evil, and it will all be judged and accounted for either at the cross or in hell. A day of rest is promised for every believer. Life may be unfair, but in the end, God would make it fair.

The judgment of God means that there is nothing unimportant in my life. Everything is under the eye of the God I must answer to.

What truly characterizes hell is that people are not in the presence of the Lord, in the sense of being apart from anything good or blessed in God’s presence. The separatedness from God is eternal.

We live worthy of God’s call when we display God’s goodness to others, glorify Jesus, and we are glorified through Jesus — all by God’s grace.

Summary of passage: 1 Corinthians 12: Gifts given by the Spirit are different for everyone and to be used for the common good. All determined by God.

The body is made up of many parts but all forming one body. Just like mankind. We have many gifts but all of one Spirit. All parts depend on each other in order to properly function. We are all the body of Christ and have a part to play.

1 Corinthians 13: One of the most beautiful verses in the Bible. Paul describes love as indispensable. It must be present in everything we do or it is all for nothing. Love is a verb. It shows action. It is patient, kind, protects, trusts, and perseveres. It does not envy, boast, is proud or rude, or a score-keeper.

Love never fails and is eternal. In Heaven, faith and hope fall away. But love remains.

1 Corinthians 14: Paul says prophecy is better than speaking in tongues because prophecy can be understood by others and helps other. He who speaks in tongues only helps himself. Speak clearly and try to excel in gifts that build up the church and not just yourself.

If you do speak in tongues, pray you may interpret it for the benefit of others.

Prophecy helps the unbeliever for if an unbeliever heard you speaking in tongues he would think you are nuts! But an unbeliever can understand prophecy and will be convinced he is a sinner and repent and turn to God.

Worship should be for the strengthening of the church. An interpreter must be present when speaking in tongues. Prophecy should be instructional and encouraging. Women should not speak in the realm of church authority. This is the word of God.

Questions:

9a) True conversion is where you are sincere in what you are saying and believing. If the conversion is true, the Holy Spirit will be inside of you and in your heart.

b) Yes

c) 1 Cor 12:7 says the Spirit is given for the common good. Different gifts but from the same Spirit. Through Paul’s analogy of the human body how every part is dependent on the other for survival, we see that every human is dependent on the other as well. Man was not meant to be alone or live alone. We are better together instead of alone (think of how easy it is to break one stick but how hard it is to break a bundle of sticks).

Verse 27: We are all the body of Christ and have a part to play.

10) The goal of the gifts is to foster love, not the gifts themselves (pride warning here). Love is ever-lasting. It will outlive any gift given. Love is eternal. And love is God. Not any gifts He bestows.

11) Follow love and use your spiritual gifts. Verse 12 says to try to excel in gifts that build up the church and strengthen it (verse 26). If you speak in tongues, make sure you can interpret what you say; otherwise, you are not helping others.

Conclusions: A lot to digest once again in these chapters. I like the reminder how God has blessed each of us individually but we are to use these gifts for the good of all.

I love the definition of love in Chapter 13. These days it seems people throw the word around way too much with no meaning behind it. Here we have it defined. Love is about actions. It reminds me of some things I need to work on when showing love.

Even in speaking in tongues it is to me used for good as Paul says over and over again it’s pointless if no one can understand your words and you end up helping no one.

Great lesson on why we’re here again: for others.

End Note on 1 Corinthians 14:34: Admittedly, this is the first time I have read this that women are to remain silent. So, of course, I read up on it and I found various interpretations.

1) This is only pertaining to women staying silent in relations to the role of women (which means men are the head of home and church)

2) This is actually Paul quoting a question the Corinthians asked him i.e. Paul is not saying this but the Corinthians are and Paul is again answering their question.

3) How this refutes everything Paul just said in 1 Corinthians 12 since all (men and women) have spiritual gifts they must impart to others.

4) What the original Greek word for silence actually meant. This argument I never believe for unless one of these opiners lived in first century AD and knew what the word meant he or she is only guessing. As we know with our own language, meanings and slang of words are constantly being changed and altered (take gay for example. No one can use this word any more in casual conversation because most people will miss the first definition of “happily excited; merry”. So I tend to discount these arguments altogether.

Here are two interesting sites I found: one supports the gender role and the other supports the refutation and Paul didn’t say this at all. You can be the judge.

The more and more I delve into BSF the more and more confused I get sometimes (not always, but sometimes). There are so many interpretations out there it’s hard to decipher what exactly God is saying sometimes.

I tend to lean towards the black and white/simple explanation more. I’m never trying to find a way to interpret what doesn’t need to be interpreted. Yet, I am highly cognizant of the “lost in translation” problem that does exist out there and sometimes it is hard to decipher what exactly God was trying to convey through the writers of the Bible.

I pray about an issue that’s bothering me and go with what my heart says is the right meaning when I feel God has impressed upon me His answer.

You definitely can’t believe everything you read out there especially when it comes to God’s word.

I do my best as I await the real answers to my lingering questions when I get to Heaven.

Summary of passage: 1 Corinthians 10: Continuing from 1 Corinthians 9 where Paul says it is more important to give up some things for the sake of winning the race Paul uses the Exodus as an example of a people who started strong (under God’s watchful eye, were baptized, and ate spiritual food) but were disqualified in the end and ended up scattered over the desert because:

They were idolaters; sexually immoral; tested the Lord; and they grumbled.

These are warnings for us to stand firm and don’t fall! We all face temptations but God is faithful and only gives us what we can bear and always with an out.

Therefore flee from idolatry and do not eat of food sacrificed to pagans. You cannot have your cake and eat it too!

Everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial. You must seek the good of others. Everything in it is God’s and we must do everything for His glory. Do not seek your own good but the good of others. Follow Christ’s example.

1 Corinthians 11: Paul says the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. Men should not cover their heads in prayer because he is the image and glory of God; whereas, women should because they are the glory of man. Woman came from man and was created for him. Thus, women should have a sign on their head.

Yet men and women are interdependent. They need one another. Men are to respect women just as much as women are to respect men.

Paul chastised the Corinthians again for their divisions and irrelevance for the Lord’s supper and others.

Paul explains that the body and blood of Jesus were to be taken as a Holy Communion and to proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. If you take communion in an unworthy manner you are sinning. You must examine yourself before partaking and judge yourself before the Lord (by confessing your sins) so the Lord does not have to. For the Lord’s judgment is discipline. So have proper manners when you come together!

b) People have idols (which can be anything put above the Lord). Sexual immorality is everywhere today and is being justified. We don’t have faith so we test God in His Word often with dire consequences. And we grumble (probably the most common) in the form of complaints when we should we eternally grateful for what Jesus did for us on the cross.

c) It’s good to know that everyone faces temptations but God will not give us more than we can bear and He always provides an out so we can stand up under the pressure. The out is usually the harder way so many do not see it.

6) Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should. In everything you should do for the good of others not for yourself. You do it for the glory of God as you follow Christ’s example. This means putting your needs and wants last. Think of others and how your actions will affect them. Resist the little temptations that society says is okay when in your heart you know it is not (lying, swearing, flirting, etc).

7a) The head of every man is Christ; the head of every woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. Head in this sense means authority not inferiority. Thus, man has authority over women just as Christ has authority over man and God has authority over Christ. (verse 3)

b) This question is vague in my opinion. I believe the circumstances are the same in today’s day. God’s word does not change. Only the application changes as society changes (which is not necessarily a good thing). Man is to have authority over women in the home and in church. This is what the Bible speaks to.

Women are to have their head covered when praying. In Ancient Times this was signified by a veil. But what Paul says is this is not necessary as long hair on women serve as a covering. Thus, in modern times we don’t wear a veil.

Furthermore, this is a matter of the heart. As long as women pray with the understanding they are under the authority of the male leadership of the church, women are free to pray.

c) The principle of man having authority over women still applies the same today. Man is to be the head of the home and church. Women have clear roles (as created by God to be man’s helper) and men have theirs. However, in today’s society, women have rejected these roles and expanded it into all realms of society.

God does not speak of man’s authority over women in politics, business, education, health, etc. God is only speaking of the home and the church. Well, submission is hard to swallow but since we are required to submit to God we are required to submit to man in the home and church. No where else though.

This does not mean every woman is under the authority of every man. This has nothing to do with inferiority only authority. And here is where God’s Word has been misconstrued and misapplied.

8 ) Holy Communion is a reverent act which we must approach as such. We must examine ourselves (verse 28), come to Jesus and repent as we are being cleansed of our sins. Our heart must be right otherwise we are guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord (verse 27). Here is a place where going through the motions is a bad idea!

Conclusions: Packed lesson, that’s for sure. We start out being warned about temptations (but then told God won’t give us more to bear), then told to live for others, cover our heads in worship and respect man’s authority over women as God is over man and then told the proper way to take communion–all great messages we need to heed!

I loved the warning against temptation. We all need to avoid situations where temptation can take place. Don’t put yourself with single men or women in a social atmosphere. Don’t go to a bar if you are tempted by alcohol. Don’t hang out with people who do drugs. We are all tempted but God gives us a way out and one of the most common is to avoid the situation all together.

Just because someone says to jump off a cliff, would you do it? No! Just because you can do something doesn’t mean it’s right. This is where strong morals comes into play as well as your gut. We all have an internal guidance system that alerts us to wrong-doing. Follow it.

Another great teaching on the authority of man over women. I think so many people today have been brain-washed by feminism and people who have misconstrued God’s Word and applied it in places God never does. Both men and women. We only have to look at society today to see the effects of this: divorce rates, single parents, lack of personal responsibility, disregard for authority, etc. We have only to turn to God for the answers. It’s all in black-and-white but too many people think ignorance is better.

The Lord’s Supper: I think most churches are getting this right. They approach it with the reverence it should be and are careful to tell people it’s significance and limit only Christ-followers to Communion.

However, I think it should be taught more. This was the first time I read this passage in relationship to Communion. I think there are common misperceptions out there about Communion which should be addressed in churches today.

Summary of passage: 1 Corinthians 8: Paul is answering another question of the Corinthians and first Paul cautions the Corinthians that knowledge can be deceiving. You think you know when in reality you may not. But love builds up and supersedes knowledge.

So with respect to eating food for idols: we (Christians) know there is only One, True God. But others do not. Albeit it’s okay for Christians to eat food sacrificed to idols (because we know it’s just another cow basically) others who do not know God are committing a sin because they are looking at it in a religious sense. They are following the Christians’ example. (You know, the ubiquitous saying amongst children “But so-and-so ate the apple so why can’t I?”)

This food Christians ate brings us no closer to God; but it brings those unbelievers farther from God. So Paul says to be careful in exercising your freedom when it could hinder those away from God. Paul says this is a sin against Christ: doing something we know can pull others away from Him. Christians must sacrifice for others.

1 Corinthians 9: Paul declares he is an apostle with the right to be supported by the church. By right Paul can share in what he reaps just like a soldier, a farmer, and a shepherd share in what they reap.

But Paul says he did not use this right because it might hinder the gospel of Christ. It is commanded by the Lord that Paul can receive support but he himself is choosing not to. He boasts of this!

Paul preaches the gospel because he is compelled to spread the Word. He becomes all things to all people in order to win people for the Lord and share in an eternal reward and not an earthly one. Paul refuses all things that would hinder his reward or him finishing the race. His crown is one that will last forever in this race we all run. Paul runs and fights all for an eternal prize to which he won’t be disqualified from.

Questions:

3a) Basically, we’re talking about actions speak louder than words and how if you do something others think it’s okay for them to do it as well (crowd mentality). You show others your knowledge and beliefs by acting as such. It is our responsibility to lead by example and not provoke others to sin even if we ourselves don’t.

Paul’s example is eating food sacrificed to idols. It is technically okay to eat this food because you believe in the One, True God. However, others watching you may not and they see you do it so they do it, not knowing it’s consequences because of lack of knowledge.

We are called to lead others by example especially in terms of kids. It’s like when you accidentally get something for free like you walk out of the grocery store not having paid for something and then you realize when you get to the car they missed it. Is it okay to not pay for it? Yes. It was their mistake. But is it right? No. It is a form of stealing and you must go back in and pay for the item.

4a) Verse 12 & 19 So he could win as many people as possible. He became all things to all men in order to win them (verse 22) All for the sake of the gospel and its blessings, not an earthly reward (verse 23).

b) Personal Question. My answer: We must adapt to those around us in order to bond with them and ask nor receive nothing in return in order to spread the Good News to as many as possible. Commonality goes a long way to win trust of others and if you receive nothing in return it makes a bold statement that your are not just preaching for a free meal.

We must keep in mind what the goal is. Not a free meal. But an eternal prize. We can get caught up in the accolades of this world and the prizes but Paul says we are working for an intangible goal, one we cannot see until we reach heaven.

Conclusions: I like 1 Corinthians 8 because it takes into account our actions and others. We do affect other people and our actions do have consequences, many of which we cannot see. Society today tells us it’s all about me. Well, it’s not. And this passage is a great example of why it isn’t.

The prize is the end game. Finish strong. Always keep eternal rewards in mind which will last as opposed to temporal earthly rewards which will all fade away in the end.